London
13 °C
Manchester
Glasgow
5 °C
Dublin
Belfast
Washington
29 °C
Denver
Atlanta
Dallas
Houston Texas
New Orleans
El Paso
Phoenix
Los Angeles
20 °C
26 °C
-2 °C
-2 °C
13 °C
3 °C
19 °C
16 °C
8 °C
NFL officials can aid replacement refs under new rules / Photo: © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
NFL officials can aid replacement refs under new rules
The NFL adopted a number of rule change proposals in Tuesday's annual league meetings at Phoenix, including ones to help replacement referees under a work stoppage by regular officials.
The moves came with negotiations at a standstill between the league and the NFL Referees Association on a new collective bargaining agreement ahead of the 2026 campaign.
Team owners approved a one-year only rule from the competition committee allowing the NFL officiating department in the replay area to "correct clear and obvious mistakes made by on-field officials that impact the game."
The change would come only if there is a work stoppage and replacement referees are used.
Another rule change would allow NFL personnel to consult with on-field officials when considering disqualifications for flagrant football acts and non-football acts without such calls being made on the field.
NFL officials would hope to avoid mistakes from the substitute whistle-blowers such as when one called a touchdown and another ruled a pass incomplete on the same play the last time replacement referees were used, a nationally televised non-call that helped push a deal for regular referees to return.
Other changes would include allowing teams to declare an onside kick attempt at any time during a game and adjust final roster reduction dates for teams playing an international game in the first week of the season.
I.Wroblewski--GL
